Improvement in washing-machines



L. M. D-ODDRIDGE. Washing-Machines."

VP ented Ju'e 30,1874,

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFIG.

LOYAL M. DODDRIDGE, OF NEW MOUNT PLEASANT, INDIANA..

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,619, dated June 30, 1874; application filed April 22, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, L. M. DoDDRIDeE, of New Mount Pleasant, in the county of Jay and f State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make anduse it,` reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

The nature of my invention relates to an improvement in washingmachines; and it consists in placing the wash-board upon springs of any suitable kind, so that it will give an elastic pressure upward against the rigid roller. It further consists in the arrangement and combination of devices, which will be more fully described hereafter.

The accompanying` drawings represent my invention.

a represents a horizontal board, upon which the machine rests, and which has a groove or notch cut in each end, so that the machine can be secured to the top of a tub by means of suitable rods or other fastening devices. Rising from the top of this base a are two standards, b, which have suitable slots cut in their tops t0 receive the ends of the shaft c and the blocks d, which bear down upon the top of the shaft, and prevent it from rising upward. In eachof the blocks there are formed two or more holes, and through the side of each standard there are formed two or more corresponding holes, through which are passed the pins e. j

By adjusting the pins and blocks up or down, more or less pressure can be given to the clothes being washed.

Extending downward from the under side of the shaft c are two bars, g, which form bearings for the corrugated roller h, which is moved back and forth over the wash-board by means of the operating-handle z'. The washboard j has a slightly-concave face, and has its surface formed of the rollers Z and corrugated rubbing-suface n.

Clothes placed upon the rollers Zwill have all the water thoroughly pressed out of them by passing the washing-roller h a few times over them, while those placed upon the surface n will retain their soap and water long enough for them to be thoroughly washed. The surface a also forms a washboard, upon which small, ine articles of clothing can be washed by hand after the roller It has been moved over to one side out of the way.

Vhen it is desired to give the clothes a rubbing instead of a rolling pressure from the roller h, a pin, o, is passed through a hole in the side of one of the bars g into the end of the roller, which is thus prevented from turning around. As the roller is then passed from side to side over the board, it gives a rubbing pressure of any desired weight. A

The wash-board j is supported upon any del sired number of flat, coiled, or rubber springs,

c, which allow the board a limited vertical play, so that it can adjust itself to the thickness of the clothes being washed.

By making the board adjustable by means of the springs instead of the roller, as heretofore, not only can the roller be more easily operated, but the pressure of the springs requires to be less frequently changed to adjust the roller to the clothes. The springs also force upward the sides of the board, so that the roller will exert a pressure upon the clothes in any place upon the board; whereas, when the roller is forced downward by the springs, it loses all its pressure before it has reached the edge of the board.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml The combination, with the wash board formed of the rollers l, corrugated surface n, and the springs c, of the rubbing mechanism, consisting of the vibrating arms g g, roller h, and pin o, whereby the said roller can be locked, to impart a rubbing action to the clothes, or allowed to revolve freely over the same, for the purpose of pressing out the water therefrom, as speciiied.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 16th day of April, 1874.

LOYAL M. DODDRIDG-E.

GEORGE W. MILLER, GEORGE H. HORN.

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